By Time Nigeria
St. George’s University (SGU) has called for a more equitable and risk-informed approach to breast cancer screening in Africa, urging improved access to early diagnosis, diagnostic imaging and timely treatment as the continent continues to face a significant burden of the disease.
The university made the call as part of activities marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month, highlighting the need for women to understand their individual risk factors and seek prompt medical attention when they notice unusual changes in their breasts.
According to estimates attributed to the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s GLOBOCAN 2024, published in 2026, Africa recorded approximately 225,643 new breast cancer cases and 100,070 deaths from the disease in 2024.
The figures underscore the urgent need to strengthen awareness, improve access to diagnostic services and address inequalities in cancer care across the continent.
Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Africa and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with limited diagnostic infrastructure, shortages of specialised healthcare personnel and delays in treatment contributing to poor outcomes.
Dr. Tonia Frame, Assistant Professor and Director of the Global Health Unit in the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at St. George’s University, Grenada, said breast cancer risk should not be assessed solely on the basis of age.
According to her, women of the same age may have different risk profiles depending on their family history, genetic susceptibility, previous breast findings and other recognised risk factors.
“Breast cancer risk does not suddenly begin at a particular birthday, and two women of the same age may have very different risk profiles,” Frame said.
She encouraged women to become familiar with the normal appearance and feel of their breasts and seek prompt clinical evaluation whenever they notice unexplained changes.
Frame noted that breast cancer can occur in younger women and that access to high-quality imaging services remains uneven across Africa.
She therefore advocated an approach that combines awareness, clinical assessment and individual risk evaluation to determine whether a woman may require earlier assessment, specialist referral or additional imaging.
She added that the World Health Organization recommends early diagnosis and timely evaluation of women with symptoms of breast cancer, while screening decisions should take account of individual risk and available healthcare resources.
The university identified family history, genetic factors, breast density and previous breast abnormalities as important considerations in determining appropriate screening and follow-up plans.
Women with close relatives who have had breast or ovarian cancer, particularly at younger ages, may require further risk assessment to determine whether inherited susceptibility is a concern.
Similarly, women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variants may need earlier and more intensive screening than women at average risk.
The university also highlighted breast density as a factor that can affect the accuracy of mammography and is independently associated with breast cancer risk.
Depending on a woman’s overall risk profile, supplemental imaging, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may be considered by her healthcare provider.
Previous high-risk breast lesions, atypical biopsy results and suspicious imaging findings may also influence the frequency and type of follow-up required.
The university stressed that screening decisions should be individualised to ensure that women who could benefit from additional assessment receive appropriate care without exposing others to unnecessary tests and procedures.
The call comes amid concerns about persistent inequalities in access to breast cancer assessment and diagnostic services across sub-Saharan Africa.
A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis cited by the university found that only 13 per cent of women had ever undergone a clinical breast examination.
The review also identified differences in uptake associated with educational attainment, household wealth, health insurance coverage and contact with healthcare services.
According to the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, inadequate diagnostic infrastructure and shortages of specialised healthcare professionals continue to contribute to late diagnosis and poor outcomes.
The university said addressing these challenges would require more than public awareness campaigns.
It called for stronger referral systems, increased training for frontline health workers, expanded access to diagnostic imaging and pathology services, and improved follow-up for women with abnormal findings.
It also emphasised the importance of monitoring cancer care outcomes across socioeconomic groups and geographical locations to ensure that underserved communities are not left behind.
The university also highlighted the potential role of artificial intelligence (AI) in supporting breast cancer detection, particularly in healthcare settings where imaging facilities and specialist personnel are limited.
Depending on the technology and clinical setting, AI may assist with image interpretation, patient triage, workflow prioritisation and risk estimation.
However, Frame cautioned that the effectiveness of AI depends on proper validation, quality assurance, diagnostic confirmation and reliable referral pathways.
She said integrating community health workers, portable AI technology and digital referral systems into primary healthcare could help reach women facing geographical, financial and other barriers to medical services.
“The most important feature is not the algorithm alone, but the complete pathway linking awareness, initial assessment, referral, diagnostic confirmation and treatment,” she said.
Frame stressed that AI-generated results should not be treated as a medical diagnosis but should be interpreted alongside a patient’s clinical history, risk factors, examination findings and appropriate diagnostic imaging.
The university encouraged women to take an active role in decisions about their breast health by discussing their age, family history and personal risk factors with qualified healthcare professionals.
It advised women to ask their doctors when screening should begin, whether their family history warrants a formal risk assessment, and whether genetic counselling may be appropriate.
Women were also encouraged to discuss how breast density, previous symptoms, imaging results and biopsy findings might affect their screening and follow-up plans.
The university noted that a personalised approach to screening does not necessarily mean conducting more tests on every woman, but rather identifying those who may benefit from earlier, more frequent or different forms of assessment.
It added that women should understand which screening and diagnostic services are available in their communities and what follow-up care will be provided if an abnormality is detected.
St. George’s University said preparing future physicians to respond to evolving healthcare needs remains central to its medical and public health education.
Founded in 1976, the institution has students and faculty from more than 150 countries and offers a four-year Doctor of Medicine degree, alongside five-, six- and seven-year entry pathways for students from different educational systems.
The university also operates a network of more than 75 affiliated hospitals and health centres in the United States and the United Kingdom, providing clinical training opportunities for medical students.
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month continues to draw attention to the disease, the university said improving outcomes in Africa would depend on equitable access to risk assessment, early detection, accurate diagnosis and timely treatment.
It maintained that women with concerning symptoms or abnormal findings must be able to access appropriate medical evaluation and follow-up without avoidable delays.
Editorial note: Before publication, verify the GLOBOCAN figures, the 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis, and the quoted WHO guidance against their original sources. The article should also distinguish between screening asymptomatic women and evaluating women who already have symptoms, as these involve different clinical pathways.